Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmulisa’

ABSTRACT

A  chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Zanmulisa’ characterized by its large sized daisy-type blooms with bright purple ray florets and prolific branching; and a response time of 7 weeks.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zanmulisa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium Ramat., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar denomination ‘Zanmulisa’. ‘Zanmulisa’ is a product of a breeding and selection program for pot mums which had the objective of creating new cultivars with a daisy type inflorescence with medium plant height and a response week of 7 weeks. ‘Zanmulisa’ is a seedling resulting from a cross of the female parent id 44275 and the male parent id 20560. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmulisa’ differ from plants of the female parent in inflorescence color; the female parents has red inflorescences, while the seedling has pink ones. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Zanmulisa’ differ from plants of the male parent in the following characteristics. (1) Inflorescence size. And (2) Response time. (1) The inflorescences of the male parent are smaller than those of the seedling. (2) The response time of the male parent is higher than that of the seedling.

The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Wilhelmus Bernardus Blom in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May 2006. The first act of asexual production of ‘Zanmulisa’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July 2006 and propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, although the phenotype may somewhat vary with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the various stages of foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The observations and measurements were gathered in May 2010 from plants grown in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. Three cuttings were planted in a pot with a diameter of 12 cm. The greenhouse temperatures for this crop were at day-time 18.degree.C. to 25.degree. C., and at night about 20.degree. C. The photo-periodic response time in this crop was 7 weeks after an average of eight long days. After this long day period growth retardants (Alar) were applied six times in an average dose of 1.5 gram/liter water until flowering. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. To show the phenotype as described ‘Zanmulisa’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in the Netherlands. With assimilation lightning (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted all year round under greenhouse conditions in the Netherlands.

This new variety produces large sized daisy-type blooms with purple ray florets and a response time of 7 weeks.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Zanmulisa’ is ‘Dark Pink Elgon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,492). When ‘Dark Pink Elgon’ and ‘Zanmulisa’ are being compared the following difference is noticed: The difference of ‘Dark Pink Elgon’ and ‘Zanmulisa’ are (1) Inflorescence size. And (2) Color ray-florets. (1) The inflorescences of ‘Dark Pink Elgon’ are smaller than those of ‘Zanmulisa’. (2) The ray-florets of ‘Dark Pink Elgon’ are pink, while those of ‘Zanmulisa’ are more purple.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Zanmulisa’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 2001.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of Chrysanthemum xmorifolium Ramat. ‘Zanmulisa’ Bud Size Medium; cross-section 6 mm, height 5 mm Shape Oblate Texture Pubescent Outside Color Greyed-green 191A Phyllaries Number 22, arranged in 3 rows Shape Elliptic Apex Acute Base Truncate Margin Entire Color Upper surface: Green N138B Length and width 1.2 cm; 2 mm Texture Pubescent Inflorescence Type Daisy Height 1.8 cm Diameter 7 cm Peduncle length 3.5 cm Peduncle color Green 137D Peduncle diameter 2 mm Peduncle texture Pubescent Number per branch Approx. 5 inflorescences Shelf life 4 weeks Seeds Produced in small quantities, ovate, Greyed-brown 199A, length 1.5 mm, diameter 0.6 mm Fragrance Faint chrysanthemum odor Color Center of inflorescence (disc Immature stage: Yellow Green N144B florets) Mature stage: Yellow 7A Color of upper surface of the Red-purple 71A ray-florets Color of the lower surface Red-purple 72C of the ray-florets Tonality from Distance A pot mum with bright purple flowers and a green center Color of the ray-florets after Red-purple 71C aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and lower side smooth Number 20-22 Shape Elliptic Apex Dentate Base Attenuate Cross-section Flat Longitudinal axis of Straight majority Length of corolla tube 0.4 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 3-3.2 cm Ray-floret width 1-1.1 cm Ratio length/width Medium Disc florets Disc diameter 1.4 cm Distribution of disc florets Abundant Shape Tubular Color Yellow 11D at apex, Yellow-green 150D at base Length 4 mm Diameter 1 mm Receptacle Color Yellow-green 145D Shape Conical raised Height 5 mm Diameter 6 mm Reproductive Organs Androecium Present on disc florets only Stamen length 3 mm Stamen color Yellow-green 144A Anther color Yellow 3A Pollen Present Pollen Yellow 12A Gynoecium Present on both ray and disc florets Style color Yellow-green 154C Style Length 3 mm Stigma color Yellow 7A Stigma Width 1 mm Ovary Enclosed in calyx Plant Form Upright and branching Growth habit Spherical shape Growth rate Medium Height 24 cm Width 30 cm Stem Color Green 137C Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Not observed Internode length 1-1.5 cm Length of lateral branch From top to bottom 20 cm Lateral branch color Green 137D Lateral branch diameter 3 mm Lateral branch, attachment Medium strength Branching (average number Prolific with 3 breaks after pinching of lateral branches) Response time 7 weeks Foliage Leaf color Upper surface: Green 137A Lower surface: Green 138A Color midvein Upper surface: Yellow-green 147D Lower surface: Yellow-green 148D Size Medium; length 7-9.5 cm, width 3-4.5 cm Quantity (number per lateral 12 branch) Shape Elliptic Texture upper side Sparsely pubescent Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrated Shape of Base of Sinus Rounded Between Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Diverging Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Acute Apex Mucronulate Petiole length 1 cm Petiole diameter 3 mm Petiole color Yellow-green 147D

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison variety ‘Zanmulisa’ ‘Dark Pink Elgon’ Inflorescence size 7 cm 6 cm Color ray-florets Red-purple 71A Red-purple 67B 

1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant named ‘Zanmulisa’ as described and illustrated. 